VITAL health services were largely unaffected by industrial action in the Midlands but routine operations, blood tests, cleaning and transport services were all disrupted.

Between two and five per cent of workers at hospitals in the region went on strike – including porters, physiotherapists, NHS drivers, cleaners and nursing healthcare assistants.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was the hardest hit with eight per cent of staff going on strike, a total of 30 of the 460 workers on duty – from paramedics to call centre staff.

Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham said NHS workers who had never been on strike in their lives had been “pushed into it” by the Government.

Susie McGinley, a district nurse who works in Sparkhill, said: “I’ve paid into my pension for 19 years and I was responsible and took financial advice. We are not asking for more money, we are just asking to get out what we paid in. I just want what is owed to me.”

Porter Paul Vines, who works at Heartlands Hospital, said: “We don’t want to have to strike but it is necessary for people’s futures. We hope the Government will get round the table to sort this out.”

Christina McAnea, the Unison union’s head of health, accused the Department of Health of fiddling figures to play down the strike’s success.

Ms McAnea said looking at overall numbers of people on strike was not the true picture as many members were exempt from taking action to keep emergency services running while doctor, nurse and midwifery unions were not taking part.

Many hospitals postponed hundreds of planned operations in advance to ensure vital services could continue as normal.

At City Hospital, in Winson Green, and Sandwell Hospital, in West Bromwich, 350 of the 7,500 staff were on strike with cleaning services hit hard and staff volunteers trained to ensure hygiene standards on wards.

Bosses at Russells Hall Hospital, in Dudley, cancelled all operations and outpatients’ appointments in advance. A total of 200 workers went on strike, affecting microbiology, radiology and therapy departments.

Bosses running Queen Elizabeth Hospital(QE), in Edgbaston, and Heart of England Foundation Trust, in charge of Heartlands, Solihull and Good Hope hospitals, said there were no cancellations with services running as normal.

At the QE, 249 of 7,200 staff were on strike, while 100 workers of the 10,000 at Heart of England took action.

Birmingham Children’s Hospital said it saw minimal disruption with 78 workers of 3,500 total staff on strike.

Staff at Birmingham Women’s Hospital, in Edgbaston, which has 400 union members, were among the first public sector workers to walk out at midnight, setting up picket lines.